FY02 Newton Public Schools Budget Update

Jeffrey M. Young, Superintendent

May 30, 2001

To All Members of the Newton School Community,

I write today to bring you up to date on the status of the 2001/02 (FY02) school budget. In their final vote on April 9, 2001, the School Committee approved a budget in the amount of $114.6 million, representing a $6.6 million increase in spending over FY01. Before taking this final vote, the School Committee, aware of the City’s fiscal constraints, reduced the Superintendent’s Proposed Budget by nearly $1 million.

The School Committee’s $114.6 million budget includes several important factors:

- it fully funds all collective bargaining agreements;

- it fully funds all anticipated special education costs;

- it fully funds all previously underfunded budget accounts;

- it retains favorable class sizes in elementary schools;

- it eliminates the elementary school World Language program;

- it reduces some elementary school music programs;

- it increases team (class size) in middle schools;

- it reduces the scope of the Triple E middle school athletic program;

- it increases class size in the high schools and consolidates electives;

- it reduces professional and curriculum development across the system;

- it reduces purchasing power for textbooks, instructional materials, per pupil allocations and equipment;

- it supports students at risk of failing the MCAS exam;

- it reorganizes the administration, particularly in the area of operations.

In his formal Budget Address, the Mayor allocated funding to the schools in an amount roughly $2.3 million below what the School Committee has requested. This $2.3 million gap must be closed, and it will take some combination of increased revenue for the schools and further reductions to the school program to accomplish that objective.

The School Committee has scheduled a special meeting on Monday, June 4, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. in room 210 at the Education Center to discuss the FY02 budget. This is an extremely important meeting for all interested citizens and staff to attend. As always, we invite your participation in the public process to set the ultimate budget for the schools for next year. Please stay informed via the School Committee’s website at www.newtonpublicschools.com and attend meetings whenever your schedule allows. We appreciate your continued interest and support of the Newton Public Schools.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey M. Young

Superintendent of Schools